Street letter-box.



S. G. 00X.

STREET LETTER BOX.

APPLIUATION FILED NOVh22, 1913 1,127,192. Patented Feb.2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHa'm-LITHQ. WASHING/ON. D. C

S. O. COX. 7

STREET LETTER BOX. APPLICATION rnmnnov. 22, 1913.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:HF NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTOJJTHQ. WASHING rcNv D. C.

SAMUEL C. COX, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STREET LETTER-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Feb. 2, 1915..

Application filed November 22, 1913. Serial N 0. 802,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Street Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in street letter boxes of the drop bottom type, such as illustrated in Letters Patent 960,157, granted to me May 31, 1910, although not particularly limited to the last named structure.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for conveniently supporting the letter box and so arranged as to limit the downward or opening movement of the drop bottom.

A. further object is to provide improved means for securing the box to its support.

A further object is to provide means for sustaining the weight of the drop bottom and of the contents of the box when the latter is open and for normally maintaining the bottom inclosed position. I

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front View illustrating my improved letter box and its support. Fig. 1 is a detail of the bottom of the box. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview of Flg. 1. F 3 is a side view illustrating a slight IIlOdlE- cation. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a second modification. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the lock.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a mail box provided with a deposit openlng 11, a bottom section 12 and a door section 13. The said door section is hinged to the bottom section at the forward edge of the latter, as indicated at l l and the rear edge of the bottom section is hinged at 15 to the rear wall of the box. The bottom section is provided with end plates. The door section 13 is also provided with end plates 19 adapted to slide between the end plates 16 and the adjacent ends of the box, sald end plates 19 being provided with recesses 20 adapted to fit over lugs b when the box is closed. In this connection it will be noted that when the recesses 20 are in engagement with the lugs b a support is provided for the forward edge of the bottom section, in-

dependent of the lock 22. The bottom and door sections are held in closed position by the lock 22 connecting the door section 13 with the front of the box. In order to support the bottom after the door has been opened, and to prevent the contents of the box being spilled, I provide a pulley a over which runs a cord or chain (Z attached to the bottom section 12, said pulley being provided with an internal spring. If desired a handle 0 may be secured to the pulley a for the purpose of operating the same. Lugs b projecting from the inside of the walls of the box and engaging a flange e on the bottom section 12 limit the upward movement of said bottom.

In order to support the box I provide a post 25 of any suitable contour and having a yoke 26 mounted upon the upper end thereof. Said yoke is preferablv held in place by means of a cap 27 passed through the body of the yoke into the upper end of the post 25, a rod 27 secured to said cap, being passed longitudinally through the post, the lower end of said rod passing through a suitable web or anchor 28 and being held in position by a nut 29 or other securing device. The ends 30 of the yoke extend upwardly and are provided with reduced portions 31 which extend between the end walls of the box and a flange 32 se- 33 are placed in position. Thus when the box is closed the securing devices are all concealed and inaccessible. When it is desired to remove the contents of the box the lock 22 is disengaged and the door section is brought down into alinement with the bottom section, the weight of the door and bottom sections and of the contents of the box being sustained by the spring pulley a. The

collector then places his sack in position and 4 either grasps the outer edge of the door section or the handle 0 to depress the chute formed by the door and bottom sections. The downward or opening movement of the chute is interrupted or positively limited by 9 the yoke 26 so as to bring the chute into the most desirable position for discharging the contents of the box. The limitingof the downward movement of the chute is of particular advantage in those instances where a collection vehicle is driven up to the box andthe contents of the box transferredto the vehicle without manual handling. In such instances there is danger of depressing the chute too far and depositing the con-, tents of the box upon the ground instead of in the vehicle, which danger is obviated by my invention. 1

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modified means of connecting the box withthe post. In this form of my invention the upper end of the post is provided with a beveledportion -35.to which is secured a plate 36 provided with a dovetailed rib 37 and anupstanding portion 38. The front wall ofthe box is provided with an angular extension havinga groove to receive'the' rib 37, said extension cooperating with the angularextensions 39 of the sides, to-formfa yoke. Screws 40 passed through the. front .wall from the inside engage the portion 38 and lock the box in position. Thebeveled portion 35 of the postserves to limit the downward movement of the-chute, whichworks between the arms'of the yoke,'as shown.

-InFig. 4 I have illustrated a slight modification of the letter box with respect to the drop bottom feature. In'this form of my invention a supporting yoke or casing 45 is secured to the post inany suitable manner, said yoke or casingbeingopen at its rear; The bottom section 46 is formed integral with the-wallsfof a receptacle 47, the rearend of said bottom section'being pivoted at 48 to the yoke or casing 45. Adoor section 49 is pivotedto the-bottom section 46. By reason of the pivot 48 the-receptacle 47 is mounted to swing backwardthrough the opening in the yoke or casing 45,-said swinging move ment being limited by a StOpoO-carried by the yoke or casing 45 and arranged to cooperatewith a-complemental stop 51 carried bythe receptacle 47. lVhen it is desired to discharge the contents'of ,the'box the door 49 is unlocked in the usual way,'the opening movement of the doorbeing limited so as to stop the same in line with the bottom section46. By then tipping the receptacle 47 the bottom section 46 and the door section 49 form a chute, the downward movement of which is limited by the stops 50 and 51. Any form of lock may be employed and for illustrative purposes I haveshown a lock provided with oppositely disposed bolts '52, 53, the bolts 52 engaging the casing 45: and the bolt 53' engaging the door section "49. These bolts areactuated by meansof a suitablerotatable member 54whioh is operated by a key in the usual'manne'r.

Having thus explained the nature of my I invention and described an operative manner'of constructing and using the same, although withoutattempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim is "1. An improvement in mail boxes comprising asupport provided with a yoke, a receptacle having a bottom movable between the arms of said yoke, and on an axis near one edge of the latter, and a door section alsoinovable with respect to the yoke and cooperating with the bottom section to effect theemptying of the receptacle.

2. improvement in mail boxes comprising a support provided with a yoke, a receptacle having a'pivotally supported bottom movable between the arms of said yoke, a pivoted door section also movable with respect to the yoke and cooperating with the bottom section to form a chute,saidyoke being provided with 'means for limiting movement of said chute in one direction.

An improvement in mail boxes comprising a support provided with a yoke, a I

receptacle having a dropbottom pivoted on an axis near one. edge of the yoke, said bottom being movable between the arms of the yoke, movement of said drop bottom in one direction being limited by said support.

'4. As an improvement in mail boxes, the combination with a post having an upstanding member projecting above the upper end of the post, of a receptacle having a bottompivotally supported at its rear end, a

door section pivoted to the bottom section and cooperating therewith to form a chute, and securing devices passed through. said receptacle from the interior thereof to engage said upstanding'member, whereby the end of the post will limit opening movement of said chute.

5. 'Aniinprovement in mail boxes com prising a post, a yoke removably secured thereto and having upwardly extended arms, a casing secured to the ends of said arms, a bottom section hinged to the casing, and a doorsection hinged to the bottom sec tion to form a movable chute working between said arms, the opening movement of said chute being limited by said support.

' 6. An improvement in mail boxescomprising a'casing provided with a drop bottom,-apost, a yoke having upturned ends for supporting said casing, said yoke being arranged to limit movement of said drop bottom,a cap engaging said yoke, and means carried by the post for retaining said cap in position.

7..An improvement in mail boxes comprising a casing provided witha drop bottom, a post, a yoke having upturned ends for supporting said casing, said yoke being arranged to limit movement of said drop tending into the end ofthe post, and means within the post for retaining the cap in po sition.

8. An improvement in mail boxes comprising a casing, a flange surrounding the bottom of said casing and spaced therefrom, and a yoke having upstanding ends extended between said casing and said flange, and means for securing said casing to said ends.

9. An improvement in mail boxes comprising a casing provided with a drop bottom, means for limiting the downward movement of said drop bottom, said limiting means including means for supporting said casing, a spring pressed pulley; and a flexible connection between said pulley and said drop bottom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL C. COX. Witnesses WM. S. Honons, H. JOSEPH DOYLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

